Research Funded by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Among Highlights at Annual American Society of Hematology Meeting

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Dec 01, 2014, 01:11 ET

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Dec. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Many researchers funded by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) will be among those presenting innovative blood cancer research at the 56th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition from December 6-9. The meeting takes place at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

Excitement continues to build for advances in immunotherapies, which will be among the important areas of focus at the meeting. Especially noteworthy are so-called immune checkpoints inhibitors. Immune checkpoints are proteins that suppress the immune system. Antibodies are being developed to remove these "brakes" (inhibit the checkpoints) so the immune system can be unleashed.

Further encouraging data will be presented on outcomes of patients treated with chimeric antigen receptor therapy (CAR-T) – an investigational personalized cellular therapy in which patients' immune T cells are genetically engineered and re-introduced into the body to kill cancer cells. The LLS-funded team from University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia will present further evidence of the enduring remissions of children treated with CAR-T immunotherapy. Similar findings in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) will be presented by Jae H. Park, M.D., who holds an LLS Career Development Award, on behalf of the CAR-T team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Much of this work is being advanced by LLS-supported investigators who are leaders in this groundbreaking field.

"The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) funds research across the continuum, from basic discovery to clinical trials, and partners with industry to further accelerate therapies through the drug discovery pipeline," said Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D., LLS president and CEO. "It will be exciting to learn about the latest data presented by the world's leading blood cancer researchers. LLS exists to find cures and ensure patient access to blood cancer therapies and it is gratifying to see our many years of investment in research – more than $1 billion to date – helping to advance therapies that are saving lives today."

LLS-funded researchers from several institutions will present findings from clinical trials testing different investigational agents that target a specific immune checkpoint, called programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), showing promise for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers.

Other news anticipated to emerge during ASH is related to the targeting of the BRAF gene mutation, which is implicated in most cases of hairy cell leukemia. Studies of a BRAF inhibitor are showing robust response rates for patients with this rare blood cancer. And promising results for blinatumomab, an investigational bispecific T-cell engager designed to harness the potential of the body's cancer cell-destroying T cells in patients with ALL, are also anticipated.

LLS Satellite Symposium

Immunotherapy is the focus of a satellite symposium hosted by LLS on December 5 at the Moscone Center entitled: Emerging Immunotherapies for Hematologic Malignancies: Improving Patient Outcomes by Harnessing the Immune System. The program, featuring renowned researchers, will focus on different approaches to harnessing the body's immune system to fight cancer.

LLS experts will be available throughout ASH to comment on the implications of these and other new research findings for the treatment of patients with blood cancers. To arrange interviews in advance or during the conference, please contact Andrea Greif at (914) 772-3027 (cell).

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and multiple myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

Contact: Andrea Greif
(914) 821-8958
[email protected]

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SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society